Mechanical fish



M. DRAGO uscnmrcAL FISH June 6, 1950 Filed July 426, 1946 M. DRAGOMECHANICAL FISH June 6, 1950 2 omlwN NAV R m W m im WTV .n 4 u M l. A

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Filed July 26, 1946 June 6, 1950 M. DRAGo 510,309

` MECHANICAL FISH Filed July 26, 1.946' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

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IECHANICAL FISH Filed July 26, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/G. z

Patented June 6, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANICAL FISHMichael Drago, Hempstead, N. Y.

Application July 26, 1946, Serial No. 686,302

(Cl. li692) 3 Claims.

l This invention relates to a mechanical iish, and more particularly tosuch a nsh in simulation of a tuna fish, or the like, adapted to bemounted on trackways, and provided with means for simulating theresistance afforded by actual iish, aS well as certain of the movementsthereof when played by an angler.

A primary object of thisinvention is the provision of an improvedsimulated sh characterized by means whereby the eiect of landing arelatively large fish is eiectively' simulated to an angler who hashooked the nsh.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a deviceprovided with means whereby the resistance of the sh may be controlledboth automatically and manually, in order to afford a resistanceanalogousto that afforded by a correspondingly sized live fish.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a devicewhich provides a relatively high entertainment and amusement value.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangementsof parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fullypointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawings, whereinthere is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view partially in elevation and partially in section,certain concealed parts thereof being indicated in dotted lines, of oneform of fish embodying features of the instant invention disclosing aportion of the track upon which the4 iish is adapted to travel.

Figure 2 isa top view partially in elevation and partially in section ofthe sh disclosed in Figure 1, certain alternative positions ofadjustment thereof being indicated by dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFigure 1, as indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the motor mechanism adaptedto be attached to the tail of the iish to retard the movement thereoftoward the angler.

Figure 5 isa side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1,concealed portions thereof being indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the 1 1 of Figure 6.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

line

Referring now to the drawings, the device of the instant inventioncomprises a base plate generally indicated at I0, forming the base of atrackway. As best shown in Figures 1 and 3, the base plate I0 isprovided with side plates I I, which serve as guides for wheels I2mounted on an axle I3, carried in a depending body portion I4 mounted onposts I5, which support the body of a simulated sh generally indicatedat I 6, and to be more fully described hereinafter. As best shown inFigure 3, side plates I1 overlie the side blocks II, and serve tosupport the fish in upright position.

A depending shoe 20 extends into channels 2| in the center of the baseplate 10, and carries contact rollers 22 which are adapted to eng-agecontact strips 23 at suitable spaced intervals during the travel of thesh I6. Current is supplied to the contact strips 23, as by means ofwires 24.

Referring now to the body of the fish I6, the same is comprised of abody portion 30, a head portion 3I and a tail portion 32.

Mounted in the central body portion between the supporting posts I5 is alongitudinally extendling plate member 33upon one side of which isjournaled a pulley 34 provided with an off-center pin 35, to which issecured one end of a pitman 36.

The axle 31 of the pulley 34 carries, on the opposite side of the platemember 33 a pulley 38, driven by a belt 39, which is in turn driven bya. pulley 40 operated through any desired convention-al gear system bythe drive shaft of an electric motor 4 I. The motor 4I is connected bysuitable wires 42 to the contact rollers 22, and is adapted to beenergized when the previously mentioned contact strips 23 are engaged bythe rollers.

The opposite end of Pitman 36 is pivotally mounted, as on a pivot 43, ona sliding member 44 carried by rods 45 supported on brackets 46 carriedby the frame plate 33. The upper end of the member 44 carries an offsetprojection 41 to which are pivotally linked, as by a pivot pin 48, twobrackets 49 and 50, respectively. The bracket 49 engages a rod 5I, whichin turn terminates in a bracket 52, which engages a pin 53 carried by anarm 54, the opposite end of the arm 54 being pivotally secured, as at55, to the upper extremity of a vertical shaft 56 extending through thetail section 32 of the fish.

Correspondingly, the bracket engages a rod 60, the opposite end of whichcarries a bracket 6I, which is engaged by a pin 62, secured to an arm63, which in turn is pivotally mounted on a'shaft 64, which extendsvertically through the front section of the sh.

Now, from the foregoing, it will be seen that as the motor is energizedand the eccentric formed by the pulley 34 and its oil'set pin 38 isenergized. the head and tail sections 3| and 32 are caused toreciprocate from right to left, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure2, the speed of the movement being governed by the relative speed of themotor, in simulation of the actual shaking movements of a large sh intrying to dislodge the hook from its mouth.

As best shown in Figure l, the shafts 80 and 56, respectively, arejournaled in upper and lower blocks 66 and 8l, and 80 and 69,respectively, set in the body portion of the fish.` `The front and rearportions 3| and 32 are provided with inwardly turned extremities 10 and1|, respectively, in such manner that when the head and tail sectionsare turned, there is no apparent break in the body section.

The mouth 12 of the iish has secured therein a plug 13, from which aline 14 extends rearwardly to a bracket or bifurcated member 15 securedto the foremost ofthe vertical post members I5.

From the opposite end of the plug 13, a line 16 extends forwardly of theilsh to suitable tackle, or the like, by means of which the anglerendeavors to pull the sh along the trackway formed by the members I andI I to such position that the fish can be normally reeled in and gailed,despite the motions of the head and tail portions previously described.

Means are also provided to resist such reeling motion, and take the formof a line or cable 80 which extends from a bracket 8| secured to therearmost of the vertical uprights i to a plug 82, from which a line 83extends from the tail of the fish to a suitable motor mechanism adaptedto retard the reeling end of the fish.

Such mechanism is best shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7. The rear end ofthe trackway i0 includes a bumper block 85, provided with springbiasedbumpers 80 of any desired conventional design between the side membersI, and adapted to engage the rear end of the body portion ld when thefish is in completely retracted position towards the motor block. BaseI0 rearwardly of the bumper 85 carries upright members 81, mounted on asupporting base 88. which carries a motor 89. The motor 89 drivesthrough a belt 90 a pulley 9| journaled in suitable journals 92 carriedby uprights 93 which in turn are supported on transverse members 94carried by the uprights 81. A pulley 95 on the opposite side of the axle96 which supports the pulley 9| drives through a belt 91 a pulley 91',mounted on an axle 98 journaled in suitable supporting brackets 89 inhorizontally extending members |00 also supported by the uprights 81.

The axle 98 extends through a brake drum IOI surrounded by a brake band|02. The band |02 has spaced depending ears |03 on the lower sidethereof which ears are 'connected by a pin |04 set in guides |05 and|06, respectively, carried by a base plate |01 in turn carried by thesupporting base 88. One end of the pin |04 is pivotally connected, as bya pin and slot connection indicated by ||0, to a lever |09. As shown inFigure 6, the portion of the pin |04 intermediate the guide |00 and theear |03 adjacent thereto is surrounded by a bushing |30 having a collar|3|. Circumposed upon the pin |04 intermediate the ears |03 is a coiledspring |32. Also, circumposed upon the pin |04 intermediate a collar |33flxedly carried by said pin and the guide |05 is a coiled spring |84.The other end of the lever |09 is linked to the piston rod III of ahydraulic cylinder |I2, the

opposite end of which is anchored in a lug I8' carried by the supportingframe. The cylinder is provided with ports |35 and |36 for controllingthe actuation of the piston in said hydraulic cylinder.

Thus, it will be seen that the hydraulic cylinder H2 may be controlledinl any desired external manner, in such way as to afford a positivelock, or a degree of braking force exerted on the drum |0| to afford adesired pull against the strength of the angler.

Rotatably mounted on the axle 98, Figure 7, and directly connected tothe drum I0| is a reel |20 on which the line 83 is wound. Looselymounted on the axle 98 and operatively connected to the reel |20 bymeans of a plurality of spring actuable pin devices |22 is a frictiondisc clutch member I 2|. The disc clutch member |2| is in frictionalengagement with a friction disc clutch member |23 which is keyed on theaxle 98. It is to be noted that the spring pin devices |22 act tomaintain the respective faces of the disc clutch members |2| and |23 inequalized contact throughout their entire area. This mounting of thedisc clutch members provides a constant drag on the drum |0| regardlessof the condition of the brake band |02.

From the foregoing the operation of the device should now be readilyunderstandable. It will be seen that when the line 16 is attachedsuitably to any desired fishing gear, for entertainment value, fortesting the gear, or the like, and pressure is exerted on the gear, thatcorresponding drag is effected by the reel, its friction discs abovedescribed, and the associated brake mechanism as desired. It willcorrespondingly be seen that motion may be imparted to the head and tailsections of the fish in the manner previously described in such manneras to simulate the shaking of the hook from the iishs mouth.

It will now be seen that there is herein provided an improvedinstructional and amusement device which accomplishes all the objects ofthis invention, and others, including many advantages of great practicalutility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. A device to simulate catching a live fish comprising a relativelystationary track, a fish simulating member mounted upon the track forlongitudinal movement therealong, means connected with the track andengaging the member to prevent its upward movement with respect to thetrack while permitting it to move longitudinally of the track, aflexible element connected with one end of the iish simulating memberfor pulling it along the track, a second exible element connected withthe opposite end of the fish simulating member, a winding reel connectedwith the track and spaced from the fish simulating member and adapted tohave the second exible element wound thereon, a motor connected with thewinding reel for driving it, reductiony gearing arranged between themotor and winding reel, and a friction device connected with the windingreel for placing a constant drag upon its rotation, the winding reeloperating to retard the movement of the sh along the track when it ispulled by the first named flexible element.

2. A device to simulate a live fish comprising a track, separatelongitudinally spaced electrical contact elements secured to the trackand connected with a source of current, a, Wheeled lsh simulating membermounted upon the track for longitudinal movement therealongand-including a hollow body portion and horizontally swingable head andtail portions pivotally connected with the body portion, a substantiallyvertical flat mounting plate secured within the hollow body portion, amotor secured to the mounting plate, a contact shoe electricallyconnected with the motor and disposed beneath the hollow'body portionand adjacent to the track for movement therealong and adapted to engagethe separate spaced contact elements, a substantially vertical pulleyrotatably mounted upon the mounting plate, gearing connecting the motorand pulley for driving the pulley, the pulley including an eccentricelement, a substantially horizontal guide secured to the mounting plateand spaced from the pulley, a longitudinally shiftable block mountedupon the guide, a pitman connected with the block and with the eccentricelement of the pulley so that rotation of the pulley will causereciprocation of the block along the guide. forwardly and rearwardlyextending rods pivotally connected with the block and having their freeends disposed near the head and tail portions respectively, andtransverse arms secured to the head and tail portions and pivotallyconnected with the free ends of the rods so that the head and tailportions will swing horizontally when the motor operates.

3. A device to simulate a live fish comprising a relatively stationarytrack, separate longitudignally spaced contact elements secured tothetrack and connected with a source of current, a wheeled frame mountedupon the track for longitudinal movement, means connecting the track andframe to prevent the lifting of the frame while permitting it to movelongitudinally of the track, a iish simulating member mounted upon theframe and including a central hollow body portion and head and tailportions pivotally connected with the opposite ends of the body portionand adapted to swing horizontally, a substantially vertical at mountingplate secured to the frame within the hollow body portion, a drive motormounted upon the mounting plate, a contact shoe secured to the bottom ofthe frame adjacent to the track and adapted to engage the contactelements of the track as the frame moves along the track andelectrically connected with the motor, a vertically disposed pulleyjournalled upon one side of the mounting plate, gearing connecting themotor and pulley for driving the pulley, the pulley having an eccentricpin, a horizontal longitudinal guide secured to the side of the mountingplate adjacent to the pulley, a block longitudinally slidably mountedupon the guide, a pitman having one end pivotally connected with theblock and its opposite end pivotally connected with the eccentric pin ofthe pulley, forwardly and rearwardly extending substantially horizontalrods pivotally connected with the block and having their free endsterminating adjacent to the head and tail portions respectively,horizontally swingable transverse arms secured to the head and tailportions and pivotally connected with the free ends of the rods, and aflexible element secured to the forward end of the head portion tofacilitate pulling the sh simulating member and wheeled frame along thetrack, the motor operating intermittently when the contact shoe engagesthe spaced contact elements so that the head and tail portions willintermittently swing horizontally.

MICHAEL DRAGO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 726,021 Bryan Apr. 21, 1903930,613 Pressly Aug. 10, 1909 1,320,581 Southern Nov. 4, 1919 1,620,785Roan Mar. 15, 1927 1,705,046 Church Mar. 12, 1929 1,758,836 Holmes May13, 1930 1,798,933 Edgerton Mar. 31. 1931 1,814,779 Alcala July 14, 19311,936,713 Freeman Nov. 28, 1933 1,952,658 Curtiss Mar. 27, 19342,003,193 Hirose May 28, 1935 2,232,457 Holland Feb. 18, 1941 2,341,234OByrne Feb. 8, 1944 2,460,128 Greenleaf Jan. 25, 1949 l FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 134,740 Great Britain Nov. 13, 1919

